Prunus rootstock named ‘Elta’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Prunus  sp. plant used as a rootstock that exhibits desirable propagation characteristics and light pink flowers.

Botanical classification: Prunus sp.

Varietal denomination: ‘Elta’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Prunussp. used as a rootstock known by the varietal name ‘Elta’. The newvariety was discovered in the Krasnodar region of Russia around 1987.The new variety is the result of free pollination of a Prunus lannesianaplant (female parent). The purpose of breeding ‘Elta’ was to provide aproductive clonal rootstock for cherry varieties. The new variety hasbeen trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.The following characteristics distinguish ‘Elta’ from other varietiesknown to the breeder:

-   -   1. ‘Elta’ has big stipules;    -   2. ‘Elta’ is easy to propagate via green cuttings; and    -   3. ‘Elta’ has light pink flowers in bunches.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 shows a close-up view of the flowers of the new variety;

FIG. 2 shows the new variety grown to a flowering plant; and

FIG. 3 illustrates the roots and branches of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics werecollected from plants produced by asexual reproductions via greencuttings, and grown on their own roots, carried out in the KrasnodarRegion of Russia. The new variety was grown under warm, dry Summerconditions with a temperature range of 70° F. to 105° F. The Wintermonths are mild with lows to −10° F. The Spring and Fall months arehumid. The color readings were taken in natural daylight.

-   Tree-   Use: Rootstock.-   Fruit bearing: Promotes high productivity of grafted scion.-   Size (generally): Medium.-   Height at 4 years: 8 feet.-   Spread at 4 years: 5 feet.-   Form: Rounded.-   Trunk:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Bark color.—187A.        -   Diameter.—23.0 mm at 4 years when grown in a pot.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Lenticel number.—6.0 to 15.0 per cm² at 4 years.-   Branches:    -   -   Surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Young bark color.—184C.        -   Mature bark color.—187C.        -   Internode length.—2.3 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Lenticel shape.—Round.        -   Lenticel number.—2.0 to 5.0 per cm² on a 1 year old branch.        -   Lenticel size.—1 mm.        -   Leaf bud shape.—Conical.        -   Leaf bud size.—6.0 mm. in length.        -   Branch diameter.—5.0 mm at 1 year.        -   Crotch angle.—30° to 55°.-   Leaves:    -   -   Bud.—Length: 2.0 mm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Color: 200D.        -   Overall size.—Large.        -   Length.—15.0 cm.        -   Width.—6.0 cm.        -   Surface texture.—Wrinkled.        -   Form.—Broad; elliptic.        -   Color.—Both surfaces: About 137A to 138A (Occasional reddish            tinge).        -   Mid-vein.—Size: Medium. Color: Light pink.        -   Petiole.—Length: 2.5 cm. Thickness: 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm. Color:            Greenish with pinkish overtones.        -   Leaf glands.—Absent.        -   Stipules.—Shape: Round. Size: Up to 2.0 cm. Color: Green.-   Flowers:    -   -   Bloom time.—Flowers reach full bloom in the first week of            April and last approximately 10 days.        -   Size.—Large; Approximately 30.0 mm to 35.0 mm.        -   Color.—Usually white with light pink base; overall effect at            a distance is light pink.        -   Number.—2 to 3 flowers per cluster.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Petals:    -   -   Number.—5 per flower.        -   Length.—15.0 mm.        -   Width.—Widest point is 12 mm; the base and apex are both 10            mm.        -   Shape.—Ovoid.        -   Margin.—Entire, with a forked split at the tip.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Appearance.—Petals overlap.        -   Color (both surfaces).—155C background with 10% of the petal            having 66D at the base in a fan shape.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Triangular.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Length.—5.0 mm.        -   Width.—2.0 mm.        -   Color (both surfaces).—138A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): 27. Filament length: 3.0 mm.            Anthers: Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1.0 mm. Color: 26A.            Pollen: Color: 21A. Amount: Light.        -   Pistils.—Length: 4.0 mm. Style: Length: 4.0 mm. Color: 145C.            Stigma: Shape: Round. Color: 144A.-   Fruit:    -   -   Size.—Small.        -   Axial diameter (average).—0.8 cm.        -   Axial diameter transverse in the suture plane.— 0.7 cm.        -   Axial diameter transverse and at a right angle to the suture            plane.—0.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Symmetric.        -   Stem cavity.—Shape: Round. Depth: Small. Breadth: Narrow.        -   Base shape.—Round.        -   Apex shape.—Round.        -   Skin.—Thickness: Thin. Texture: Tender. Color: Black-violet.        -   Flesh.—Texture: Tender. Juice: Dark red.        -   Aroma.—Absent.        -   Flavor.—Bitter.        -   Use.—Not recommended for eating.-   Soil Adaptation and Tolerance-   Wet soil: Resilient.-   Cold temperatures: Hardy to Zone 4.-   Drought: Tolerant.-   Asphixia: Tolerant.-   Multiplication Ability-   Layering: Weak propagation.-   Hardwood cuttings: Resistant to no propagation.-   Softwood cuttings: Great propagation.-   Pathogen Resistance-   Fungal disease: Tolerant.-   Insects: Not resistant.-   Mites: Weak resistance.-   Viruses: Tolerant.-   Diseases: Tolerant to Coccomyces and Verticillium; sensitive to    Agrobacterium.-   Root-knot nematodes: Susceptible; galls do not form, but nematode    reproduces well.-   Lesion nematodes: Moderately resistant.-   Performance as a Rootstock When Grafted-   Root sprouts (suckering): Suckers (shoots that grow from the    rootstock and disrupt the growth of the scion) are not present.-   Anchorage: Very good.-   Compatibility: Compatible with all varieties of sweet and sour    cherry varieties known to the breeder.-   Vigor: Medium; displaying fast growth in hot conditions.

1. A new and distinct variety of Prunus sp. plant, as illustrated anddescribed.